Not Another Knitwit

So I've started on socks.. I thought it was going to to be a lot harder then this so far. But I've got the cuffs done and about 2 inches of both socks and I've only been working on them for a week. I'm using the Starter Stockinette pattern from Betsy McCarthy's book "Knit Socks!" that I got last weekend at Borders. It's a really great book and it goes in depth into the basics of socks. I'll try and get some pictures up in the next couple of days, until then I'm off to work on those legs more.

Tonight was great. I got home from yet another day at retail hell and ordered chinese (because you have to indulge every so often in the things that aren't the greatest). Then after dinner was the best part, I walked down the street to Bombadill's coffee shop in downtown Ypsi. I had known that there was a stich n' bitch type thing happening every Friday but after a year of living here and nearly 6 months of the group meeting it had just never been a good time. But tonight was the night and it totally kicked ass. It's really the first time since I've started knitting that I felt totally alright admitting that I didn't actually know every thing even if that was the attitude that I was going to take when i looked at those socks. You know, the little pep talk, "and all of you stiches are going to be nice and orderly and behave your selves.... ". Ok, so maybe I'm just a total fruitcake, but thats ok in the long run too. Because at least I'll be a happy fruitcake in the woods with 2 sticks and some string. But enough about my lack of sane brain cells.

My socks are going to be totally awesome (ok, so they're grey, and largely un-impressive, but still awesome). I had originally started out making them for my fiance but it looks like they're going to be too small. When I asked him what size shoes he wore and such I didn't really take into account that these were hand knitted socks I was talking about and perhaps their interpretation of "mens medium" was a bit smaller then I thought. Oh well, I think they'll fit me just fine so I'll just make him another pair. Still working on the photo thing..

I totally rocked that sock out....

Not Another KnitWit

I have one sock done and the other is almost there. I just have to finish the tip of the toe and graft the stitchs together. I'm so excited.. but they are just a little bit too small for me so i think that i'm going to give them to my mother. I'm also making progress on my christmas presents already. I'm nearly done with the shawl that I'm knitting for my grandmother, pattern found here. In addition I've started another shawl (which I can only hope to have done for christmas as well), although I don't yet know who it's going to be for.

I really should get my "WIP" section up and running, just so I can keep track, much less anyone reading along. I just finished an iPod cozy for myself and cast on one for my fiance. I also just found some scrumptious yarn on sale at JoAnn's and I think I'll try knitting something for myself (as I have a real problem actually keeping anything for myself) instead of giving it away. We'll see...

Ok, thats all for now.. ttyl

Not Another KnitWit

So I haven't been doing nearly as much knitting as I would have liked to in the last month. Try as I might, I still haven't finished the second sock. I think it's mostly because I can't actually find it.. I know that it's back in the corner with the rest of my stash but I haven't actually dug it out of the pile... At this rate I might as well give up and call it my mother's birthday present (her birthday is at the end of november) but I really hope that I find it and finish it... even if they are a very un-interesting color of dark grey.

I haven't really been working on my other WIP's... I've com to the conclusion that it's really just too hot to work with anything more then small projects.. I almost got the Tychus Hat thats featured in the latest edition of Knitty done. I really dropped the ball on my dad's christmas present last year and he ended up with this blue garter stitch scarf that was in the end, really lame. So I'm trying to make it up to him and make him a nice hat and scarf set that he can wear at the football games without being embarssed. I really like the horizontal stripes and it's the easiest hat pattern I've seen so it seemed like a good choice! I'm hoping to start the scarf in the next couple of day's so that I can take it with me when I go to ConCentrict next week I will have something to work on. Scarves are the perfect meeting project because they don't require much actual attention while you are knitting them, once you get it started your hands mostly know what to do.

Also got the Yarn Harlot's new book At Knit's End which is an amazing book of meditations for women who knit too much... like there is such a thing. But more on that later, because I need to get to bed if I have any hope of making it to church in the morning.

ttyl

TSA | Transportation Security Administration | Air Travel - Prohibited Items

I'm really happy, the TSA revisted their rules sheet earlier this year and knitting needles are now on the permitted side of the "Permitted and Prohibited" list. They are specifically mentioned so I don't have to worry about having a problem taking my knitting needles with me when I fly to Iowa in two days. Happy, happy :) Now i just have to decide which project I'm going to take with me...

So I had a really good trip! And no problem with security at any of the airports with my needles!!! So not only did I actually get things done while I was in the air, I had something to distract me from the fact that I mostly felt like shit. Ah well.. I'm back home now and I don't have to fly again for another 3 weeks or so.

I actually finished a project while I was gone too. I adapted the "Picot-edged Gauntlet" pattern from the the Winter 2005 issue of Knit.1 Magazine which called for Lion Brand "Microspun" in black. But since I had no money to spend on yarn before I left on my trip I just dug through my stash and threw in a ball of Lion Bran "Wool-Ease" in a really pretty speckled green color that I had originally bought with the intention of making a pair of socks for my fiancee... but it was a really pretty color and it lended itself nicely to the pattern. I haven't put all of the finishing touches on them, I still have to sew up the cuff edge and weave in the ends but other then that they are done. They were originally meant to be knitted flat but I despise seams and so I just took out the seam stitches and knit it in the round. They knit up really quickly and the cuff pattern, which resembles a open faux-cable, is really cute without exposing too much skin (which is important for me living in Michigan).

And while I was at the confernce a friend of mine saw what I was knitting and was looking at the first one that I got done and decided that it would be the perfect thing for playing Ultimate Frisbee as it got closer to fall. So I adapted the pattern again and made him a manly version that had a K2, P2 rib pattern for the long cuff instead of the lacier open work cuff that the pattern originally called for.

So I got 3 fingerless gauntlets total knitted while I was there and I've started another WIP that I hope to work on when I have to fly to Boston next month. Its a yoga bag for my aunt. I intend to make one for my mother too, but I don't have the yarn I want for that one yet, that will have to wait until I get paid on Thursday.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Bah... I swear I will start getting more then comments up here about the pretty things I'm knitting right now. I just have magically produce about $150, buy a reliable digital camera, have 5 minutes to set it up, and post pictures... see.. it really isn't that hard. hahahaha.. so yeah.. as soon as I have some extra cash or christmas, whichever comes first, I promise to have some pictures up. Also on my list of things to get going in the next week is to get a reliable list of works in progress... it might take some household archeology.

Right now I'm sitting in my chair trying to make some progress on the yoga bag that I'm knitting for my aunt. You'll recall that I've committed myself to making two of these things.. by the time I get done with this I may just give up and send it to my mother... we'll see... speaking of my mother, I really should get around to finishing the ugly grey socks of doom. My goal is by her birthday (ok, so thats at the end of November... plenty of time to wait - look for future post about stitching the toes on the way to see her for her birthday!). If only I could get away with the same logic when it comes to my school work...

Windsor Button

So I'm vaguly sad. I've been in meetings all weekend, 3 blocks away from a yarn shop and I won't be able to stop by because of when my flight leaves. I haven't really worked on my current wip at all.. I keep trying to pick it up but I am just having a horrible time getting motivated. I really like the pattern that I'm working with but this cotton is just kicking my ass. Oh well... I'm going to struggle through this one and then figure out if it's something that I can use for a second one.

Ok, well... I have another meeting to go to now so I'm going to stop babbling..

Love

Windsor Button

So I'm vaguly sad. I've been in meetings all weekend, 3 blocks away from a yarn shop and I won't be able to stop by because of when my flight leaves. I haven't really worked on my current wip at all.. I keep trying to pick it up but I am just having a horrible time getting motivated. I really like the pattern that I'm working with but this cotton is just kicking my ass. Oh well... I'm going to struggle through this one and then figure out if it's something that I can use for a second one.

Ok, well... I have another meeting to go to now so I'm going to stop babbling..

Love

Ok.. So I know that it's been a couple of months but I've been around and posting.. but I've been busy. Not to mention that I just looked at the calendar and OMG christmas is coming... And I'm so not ready. I I have gotten some things done... my mom's gift is done but that's about it. I think that my grandmothers and such are going to be getting ornaments this year, found a cute pattern that shouldn't take me more then about an hour and a half each. So I only need to pump out 5 of those in between a couple of other projects.. I ended up buying things for the other 3 girls.. I'll probably make something small, a bag or somehthing to go with the little things that I've bought him. I have bags for the cousins and I'll probably get little things at BigLots or the dollar store or something.. I still haven't started on something for my dad or my brother. Not to mention that I really do have to come up with something to give to my DF. AHHHHH... Not to mention the fact that I really need to find a job... I've sent out resume's to what seems like every person living in the greater Ann Arbor area.. I know that isn't quite true but thats what it's beginning to seem like...

Ok.. laundry to sort, boy to kiss, and things to knit in the car!

Knitty.com|Litebrite

So I have officially embarked on a knitting journey, I've started a sweater. (OK, so I actually started said sweater about 2 weeks ago) but I haven't actually blogged about it yet so here it is. I have succumbed to the LYS drug that is Noro Kureyon. I'm a black and color kind of girl to begin with, and when I saw this pattern I finally decided that I needed to make a sweater, and damn the time it took me. And it's actually gone pretty fast so far. I'm almost done with the sleves... I'm knitting them both at once so that I don't run into SSS (second sleve syndrome). I'm still a broke college student and was not thrilled at having to fork over $60 for the sleve yarn alone, but it was -Noro Kureyon-. Don't get me wrong, I don't begrudge paying what something is worth, but my wallet screams sometimes when I hit the yarn store. But I got my black from Knitpicks.com which made it a little bit easier, because the body of the sweater will have only cost me $13. Ok.. well I have a whole basketfull of half finished christmas projects that I should try to make a dent in. more to come later.

Not Another KnitWit

So far here is what I have finished for christmas.
4 scarves
1 yoga bag
1 Homespun shawl
2 christmas ornaments
1 glove (not even a full pair)

Left for me to knit between now and christmas:
4 scarves
7 christmas ornaments
11 gloves (individually)
1 pair of felted slippers

I know that I can do it... at least I hope I can. I'm not totally sure I can knit that fast but I'm sure going to try!

knitty.com|Litebrite

So... I know that I need to work on christmas presents... but they were almost done and beckoning to me. and so *drum rollllll*

The sleves of my sweater are done. They still need to be blocked but they are bound off and ready for the next step. I'm going to be good and hold off casting-on the body of the sweater until I am done with christmas... or at least until I am done with most of it. I'm trying to get as much done as I can in the next 2 weeks so that the week before christmas I can focus on finals and finishing up school. Depending on what my school scheduled ends up being for finals week I might go back home earlier then Christmas eve... but I don't know. Got some done on the christmas scarves at the movies on saturday night but I'm still running behind. We'll see how far I get this year.

FUUSE - Boston StitchFest

StitchFest 2005

“A day of knitting to end Domestic Violence.”

You are cordially invited to the Boston Stitchfest, 2005. Come join us in making a blanket and other knitted and crocheted goods to donate to Renewal House, a local domestic violence shelter. This is a chance for stitchers of all levels, including those who want to learn how, to come join us in a creative, constructive space and raise awareness about the problems of domestic violence.

When: Saturday, Dec. 10
Time: 11am-9pm Come for the whole time or just stop by for a little while.
Where: The Beacon Hill Friends House, #6 Chestnut st. on Beacon Hill
What about food? Lunch is at 1pm, Dinner at 6:30

This event is being put together by the Boston Chapter of the National Organization of Men Against Sexism (NOMAS) and Unitarian Universalist Men Against Domectic Violence (UUMADV).

Contact Matt Meyer with any questions or to volunteer. 617-875-7694

Not Another KnitWit

So I was going through a random box of yarn in my closet Friday and came across a half finished project of mine. Originally I cast on thinking that it was going to be a really cute self-fringing, scrap shawl, you know, change yarn every row and use up some of the odds and ends of my stash. Well, it was a good idea at the time but I didn't really have all of the yarn that I wanted to make an impact and so I slid the piece on to scrap yarn and shoved it in the closet to be dealt with at another time. So I'm sitting there on Friday looking at this mass of red and pink fuzzy yarns.. and as I'm holding it, it occurs to me that its just about the right width for a scarf, all I would have to do is bind off and voila! instant scarf, no finishing besides going along and evening out the fringe. So I dug around and found a half used ball of some chunky red heathered yarn and started to bind off. OMG... I guess the maginitude of casting on 250 stitches onto size 13 US needles hadn't really caught up to me yet.. So as I'm casting off I realize that this thing is next to never-ending. When I had pulled it out of the box Friday morning I figured that it would be a really cute 7 to 8 foot long scarf. By the time I got done binding the thing off, I had closer to 11 to 12 feet of scarf.. it's still totally cute.. I wore it around my parents and they needed to use up the last couple of shots on a roll of film, so as soon as they are developed you will be able to see pictures of the monstrosity that is my scarf! And the couple of other things that had made their way into my parent's house.. So, with that teaser, I'm going to go and eat pizza, because all this knitting is making me hungry...

ChicKnits : Free Knitting Patterns by Bonne Marie Burns

This sucks.. this sucks sooo much. I have 12 more days until christmas, I should be knitting like a fiend to try and get everything done.. but noooo I had to be a good girl and actually attempt to pass all of my classes ;) I hate finals week.. more to the point.. I hate that finals week is the week before christmas. I so have better things to do with my time right now. My only saving grace is that 2 of my classes are done this week. I can't wait until next monday, then I will be free of the dreaded school monster and will be able to knit up a storm to try and get everything done for christmas. We'll see how well this works...

Lime-Kiwi Jello

So life... it isn't all it's cracked up to be but it's better then nothing.

Good news today, I got a call from a company that I sent my resume to Wednesday night. I am glad that I am getting calls back but the stress of preparing for an interview and then getting the call the next day telling me that I need to keep looking is starting to get to me. But I just have to keep going. One of these days that depressing call the day after won't be depressing and I won't have to be so stressed out anymore.

More good news, I got the package from elann.com that contained some of my christmas present!!! My dad's family does a pool to get christmas presents for the grandkids and this year I asked for a gift certificate to one of my favorite on-line yarn stores. And today I got a package in the mail with all of my lovely balls of yarn. I got 15 balls of elann's Peruvian Highland Wool Chunky for the Cheesy Puffs sweater that Donald decided that he liked. I'm going to test this lovely sweater curse and try to outsmart it... We'll see.. if I've broken up with him or killed him in the next year, blame it on the sweater. I also got 2 balls of Harris Tweed Shetland 4ply wool that I'll probably use for socks for Donald, or something... I might order another ball so that I can knit the socks that I really want to....

::Edit:: ok... third ball of yarn ordered... i found a coupon in my email and got the $4 ball of yarn for $1.50 plus shipping. YAY! Boy gets socks that I will like knitting, and he will like wearing... *squee*

Loves to all people...

PS... don't get drunk and puke in my house... it pisses me off to no end (see last post on my LiveJournal if you need a explanation of my anger). Wheeeeeee.... Donald had to apologize muchly and buy me new pillows, but life is good again here in tessie-world.

I have made great discoveries today... My darling fiance is such a wonderful inspiraton to keep around. So I have a new design and I'm going to submit it to knitty as soon as I get some fo the kinks out of it. Yay :) I've been modifying patterns almost since I started knitting but this willl be a first for me, to have an original pattern whether it ends up being accepted or not. Everyone wish me luck!

This is actually Donald, testing the new version of MovableType as well as the attachment function.

Yarn Harlot: The 2006 Knitting Olympics

Let the knitting begin! Ok, so I sort of cheated just a little bit, I used the cuff and one pattern repeate as my swatch for the sock. I've taken on the Gentlemen's Fancy Sock from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks. Not only that but I'm knitting them for Donald. Which means that I have to knit them for a size 10 1/2 with large feet. But I've gotten quite a bit done.. I got 4 pattern repeats done during the recap of the opening ceremonies on the CBC. I love living so close to Canada, being able to get decent television, especially the Olympics coverage. There aren't nearly as many sob stories taking up all of the coverage time and so they actually show the competition. At this rate I won't have too much trouble meeting my challenge... Maybe I'll have to tack the other Fuzzyfeet to finish the pair for Donald. Here's progress around the middle of Opening Ceremonies.

I had a good week this week, first week at my new job was great! I really like everyone at the office, and the hour's aren't going to be horrible. One of the definate perks is an hour of un-interupted knitting time on the bus one way. I'm just really happy that everything is working out.

Anyways, I'll be at my parent's this weekend, hopefully I can talk my dad into a swift and a pair of sock blocking forms. Who know, I might get lucky...

Had a good weekend. Went up to Swartz Creek and hung out at my parents house and watched the Olympics for the most part. I finished the leg of the sock while I was up there and got started on the heel flap. Here's the sock early on Sunday hanging out in the little bit of Michigan sunlight.

Last weekend I was up at my parents too. And my mom and I went on an adventure! We went to Mason, MI to the Fleece and Fibre sale being presented by a newly formed co-op of 4 Mason area sheep farms. We walked in and we were simply assulted by color and smell and fibre goodness. It was great! There were table upon tables of roving and raw fleece plus a little bit of handspun with all sorts of demos and projects. Including the felted soap making. They had handmade lavender soap with a variety of bit of roving. It was a start to finish total mini-workshop. The best part was, my mom, who has humored my knitting addiction up until now but never really understood until I took her into that room. I walked out with a cute felted soap (crappy picture below) and 5oz (about 305 yards) of worsted weight homespun.

But my mother just went for it. She walked out with a large fleece felting base, a big ziplock bag of multi-colored roving, felting needles, a big ball of wool and alpaca roving in the "November Sky" colorway, a present for her mom, and a present for my dad. When I went back up this weekend I discovered that she had beeen incredibly productive while I was going to work and school all week.

This has turned into a total photo blogpost today.... I'm going to go and clean my apartment more because my landlord is bringing more people through tomorrow to see the apartment because our lease is up a the end of July. We still don't have a new place lined up but it's in the works. Ok, lots to do around here and I'm already pretty tired.